: OBITUARIES :
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KERMIT PATE
Kermit Pate, 68, of the Bald Creek community, went to be with the Lord Sunday, July 28, 2013 at the Laurels of Greentree Ridge in Asheville. A native of Yancey County, he was the son of the late Roy and Evelyn Hunter Pate. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Van Hunter Pate. Kermit was a lifelong member of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, of which he was a deacon, choir member and active in the children’s ministries. He was a faithful Christian and good neighbor in his community. Surviving are sisters: Edna Jarvis and husband, Garrett, of Asheville and Barbara Smith and husband, Dave, of Providence, RI; nieces and nephews: Gary Jarvis and wife, Ashley, and Jennifer and James of Asheville, Deborah Smith and family of Providence, RI and Michael and Leslie Smith of California; aunts: Doris Hunter and Hazel Swann of Burnsville, Genevia Hedrick of Powell, TN; an uncle: Junior Pate of North August, SC; special friends: Chris Edwards and Kevin Swann of Burnsville; multiple cousins also survive and special caregiver: Maggie Phillips. A memorial service will be held at 11 AM Tuesday in the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. Rev. Jerry Shelton and Gary Jarvis will officiate. Graveside services will be held at 10 AM in the Pate Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends following the service at the Church. Memorials may be made to Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Children’s Ministries, 129 Scronce Creek Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.
RICK ADKINS
Rick Adkins, 55, of Micaville, went home to be with his Lord, Friday, July 26, 2013 at Memorial Mission Hospital. A native of Mitchell County, he was a son of the late Boyd and Flora Barnett Adkins. Rick was a faithful member of Bowditch Church of which he was a former Sunday School Superintendent and played the guitar with the choir. He was a truck driver and diesel mechanic. He loved his antique car collecting group.
Surviving are his wife, Carol Ray Adkins; children: Autumn Laws and husband, Jeff, and Jason Ray, and wife, Somer; grandchildren: Eli Ray, Cami Jo Ray and Jenson Laws, all of Burnsville; brothers: Steve Adkins and wife, Lesa, of Green Mountain, Darrell Adkins and wife, Wanda, of Roseboro; sister: Kay Gouge and husband, Danny, of Greenville, TN; a special aunt and uncle: Bob and Ruth Edwards, of Green Mountain, and many nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services will be held at 8 PM Monday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Revs. Ronnie Whitson and Rick Bennett will officiate. A graveside service will be held at 1 PM Tuesday in the John Ray Family Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5 until 8 PM prior to the service at the funeral home.
VINCENT DALE McMAHAN
Vincent Dale McMahan, 87, of the Low Gap Community passed away Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at his home. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late William Lonnie and Reba Hensley McMahan. He was also preceded in death by a sister: Carolyn McKinney and two brothers: Edgar and Arnold McMahan. He was a World War II Army Veteran.
Surviving are his wife of 69 years, Ruby Silver McMahan; 2 sons: Vincent McMahan, Jr., and wife, Michelle, of Indiana and Glenn McMahan and wife, Rhonda, of Burnsville; 3 daughters: Shirley Bailey and husband, Richard, and Sandra Gibbs and husband, Gary, all of Burnsville; Terri Robinson and husband, Gary, of Mills River; 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Friday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral home. Revs. Ricky Ray and Blaine Whitson will officiate. Burial will be in the Eddie McMahan Cemetery with military graverites conducted by Sgt. E. L.Randolph Chapter 57, DAV.
The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.
Sara Besco Bailey
Sara Besco Bailey, 92, of Burnsville, passed away Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at the Brian Center in Spruce Pine. Born in Ohio, Sara moved to Yancey County in 1981 with her husband, Oscar Bailey, who died in 2010. She had been a first grade teacher for over 30 years. Sara taught reading and phonics part-time at the Spruce Pine Montessori School until she was 87. She was known for her singing, quilts, kites, and gardens. She loved her home in the mountains, old-timey music, her garden, her grandchildren, and the Penland community. She cherished her neighbors and circle of friends.
She is survived by her son and daughter and their families: Dan Bailey and his wife, Emily Stanley, and children, Rebecca and Morgan, all of Glyndon, Maryland; and Susan Stickney and her husband, Cary Stickney, and children Sara and Amelia of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The family thanks all those who helped her with so much loving care in her last years at the Brian Center.
There will be a private memorial service for Sara at her home when the family can be gathered together.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Mitchell County, 236 Hospital Dr., Spruce Pine, NC 28777.
WYMAN ROBINSON
Wyman Robinson, 80, of Statesville, passed away Friday, July 19, 2013, at Iredell Memorial Hospital after a long illness. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Samuel and Lillie Thomas Robinson. He was also preceded in death by 2 sons: Samuel and Carlton Robinson; 2 sisters; and, 3 brothers. Wyman was a US Army veteran of the Korean Conflict. He retired from the water department of the Town of Burnsville. Wyman was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Statesville.
Surviving are his wife of 63 years: Hope Bradford Robinson; sons: Kendall Robinson and wife, Helen, and John Robinson and wife, Teresa, all of Burnsville, and Stacey Robinson and wife, Carol, of Statesville; grandchildren: Stephen, Billy, Amanda, Jordan, Kristen, Bethany, Lauren and Samantha; numerous adopted grandchildren; brothers: Brown Robinson and wife, Bettie, of Burnsville, D. A. Robinson and wife, Ruby, and Ira Robinson and wife, Emma, all of Green Mountain, Dorian Robinson of Salisbury, and Lloyd Robinson and wife, Annette, of Chicopee, MA; and, a sister: Ila Kay Farris and husband, Jim, of Lebanon, VA.
Funeral services will be held at 4PM Sunday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Dr. Chris Haizlip will officiate. Burial will be in the Double Island Baptist Church Cemetery, with military graverites conducted by Sgt. E. L. Randolph, Chapler 57, DAV.
The family will receive friends 2 hours prior to the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.
THOMAS 'GENE' KNOWLES
Thomas ‘Gene’ Knowles, 81, of Rhododendron Park, Burnsville, went home to be with the Lord, Friday, July 19, 2013 at Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation in Spruce Pine.
Surviving is his wife of 61 years, Janice A. Knowles; three sons: Thomas Knowles, Jr. and wife Marcia of Clark, Wyoming, Robert Knowles and wife Polly of Green Mountain and Jeffrey Knowles and wife Lisa of Pembroke Pines, FL; a daughter: Norma Poore and husband David of Hickory, 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at 1 P. M. Monday, July 22, 2013 in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, GA under the directions of Gamble Funeral Home.
Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home is serving the Knowles family locally.
COOT 'KENNY' KNIGHT
Coot “Kenny” Knight, 86, of Burnsville, passed away Wednesday, July 17, 2013, at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. A native of Lafayette, TN, he was a son of the late Phillip and Tiny Knight, and the husband of Gladys Knight for 60 years, who died in 2012. A World War II US Army Veteran, he was a retired employee of the Orlando Sentinel. He had been a permanent resident of Burnsville since 2005, and a summer resident since 1984.
Surviving are his step-children: Elzora Bye and husband, David, of Burnsville, and Jerry Williams and wife, Anna, of Summerfield, FL; 5 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services will be held at 12 Noon Monday in West Burnsville Baptist Church. Revs. Charlie Carroway and Ray Strickland will officiate. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Cemetery in Orlando, FL on Wednesday, July 31, 2013.
The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the church.
ROSIE HOILMAN DAVIS
Rosie Hoilman Davis, 70, of Burnsville passed away Sunday, July 14, 2013 at her home. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Wesley and Nellie Robinson Hoilman. Rosie was a loving mother and grandmother. She enjoyed artwork and was loved by all who knew her.
Surviving are a son, Ricky Pate and wife, Barbara; a grandson, Bo Pate of Cane River; a brother, Mack Hoilman of Pleasant Gap; 2 sisters: Fannie Edwards and Dorothy Wheeling of Valdese. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Thursday, July 18, 2013 in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Rev. Scot Garland will officiate. Burial will be in the Double Island Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 12 until 2 PM prior to the service at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home to assist with funeral expenses.
NELLEEN T. ROBINSON
Nelleen T. Robinson, 94, of the Swiss Community, passed away Thursday, July 11, 2013, at St. Josephs Hospital. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Clyde and Nola Tomberlin Robinson. Nelleen was also preceded in death by 2 brothers and sisters. She was a retired employee of Yancey County Schools and a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.
Surviving are 3 nephews whom she raised: Ronnie Luyckx of the home, Gary Luyckx and wife, Darlene, of Leicester, and Roy Burton Hensley and wife, Faye, of Hudson.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30PM Sunday in Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. Rev. Jerry Shelton will officiate. Burial will be in the Shepherd-Robinson Family Cemetery.
The family will receive friends 30 minutes prior to the service at the church.
SHIRLEY MURPHY LOFTIS
Shirley Murphy Loftis, 76, of White Oak Creek Road, went home to be with the Lord, July 11, 2013, at Mission Hospital, surrounded by her family after an extended illness. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Lawerence and Dora Self Murphy, and the wife of Fred Loftis who passed away in 2007. She was also preceded in death by a son: Freddy Loftis; and, a daughter: Diane Sheldon. Shirley was an avid gardener, a community leader, a loving mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother and friend.
Surviving are 2 daughters: Sylvia Cox and husband, Bob, of Asheville, and Rebecca Lynn Miller and husband, Casper, of Weaverville; a son: Thomas “Audie” Murphy of Burnsville; 7 grandchildren: Jerry Angel and wife, Crystal, Chance Blevins, Victoria Murphy, Darby Cox, Sydney and Kasey Miller and Ashley Richards; 5 great grandchildren: Alyssa, Katelyn and Fredrick Angel and Jeremiah and Kaitlyn Richards; 3 sisters: Rena Mace, Dorothy Young and Cartha Biddix; and several nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services will be held at 2PM Saturday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Father Ross Jones will officiate. Burial will be in the Goode Cemetery.
The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.
The family would like to say a “special thank you to all that assisted our mother at Mission Hospital”.
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